The views and photographs of Adrian Colston

Menu

Swimming Loch Ness

I ended my last blog on the Loch Ness swim rather unsatisfactorily – there were no pictures of the victorious quartet – indeed it was all rather dark – most people were rather cold and everyone just wanted to to go home! Well to get around this unfortunate situation we all decided to meet up next day on the very beach we had been 18 hours previously to celebrate (this time it was sunny and light).

I am a witness to these events – not the director – the credit for ideas behind this series of pictures must go to the swimmers, especially Andrea!

Had it been light and had everyone come ashore together it would have looked something like this

Four honorary wild highlanders – quite right too

Time for some fizz – well deserved – I had some too! Thank you very much.

Cheers and look how far it is down the Loch…

The swimming caps are thrown into the sky in celebration …. at least I managed to capture one of them.

Lochend

I have updated the Flickr account with some more pictures – I am promised more in the future …….

Yesterday I was witness to a very impressive achievement. 4 ladies swam the entire length of Loch Ness (23 miles) in a relay without wetsuits! Holy moly I hear you say – indeed! We started the expedition at 5.15am at Fort Augustus and finished just after midnight – over 19 hours of swimming. Water temperature in Loch Ness was around 12 degrees……

The weather started off quite nice but did deteriorate as the afternoon progressed producing some heavy rain and waves on the Loch. I think we might have missed the worst of the English storms but only just. Here are a few photos from the event.

The swimmers, boat crews and officiators the day before we plan to go – note blue sky and flat loch

The swimmers – Pauline, Andrea, Helan and Caroline – raising money for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust, the RNLI on Loch Ness and a children’s respite home in Dorset – Julia’s House

5am on Saturday 19th July – getting ready to go

5.13am and Caroline is about is start the day off

Caroline swimming with one of the three support boats

6am sun comes over the mountains of the Great Glen and reflects on the loch

Hi Mum – hope you have a good day!!

A swimmer followed by the convoy

As the day progresses the gloom, mist and rain descends

Here is the weather map showing what happened next. Not a great day for swimming, watching swimming or photographing swimming!

The bay at Lower Foyers

A swimmer changeover – Pauline’s finished her hour and Caroline has just started hers.

Here is Lochend at 10pm – still 2 hours to go

Andrea’s ashore with hubby Ian and son Ethan.

The photo set can be seen here – will add some pictures in the coming days.

Sorry haven’t got any better pictures of the end – it was dark, late and were standing in the wrong place despite the long wait and it all happened rather quickly. A big thanks to all involved – lots of money raised for charity and it has highlighted a great sport in a fabulous part of the country – fancy giving it a go?